Bill Page has a passion for helping young students, especially those who have problems succeeding in our country’s educational system.
“My goal is to use all my effort publicizing the plight of the at-risk kids, dropouts and kids whose efforts result in failure,” says Bill.
Bill graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education. He had a major in social sciences and a minor in English.
Since retiring from classroom teaching, Bill is now an educational writer, author and consultant. He has conducted research on junior high students deemed to be troublemakers.
“I have written dozens of educational articles and published a book in its second printing called At-Risk Students: Feeling Their Pain,” says Bill.
He has also conducted staff development programs throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Bill says the most rewarding part of his profession is working with students and helping them with their lives. He says he enjoys the satisfaction of advocating for the students who have difficulty defending themselves against discrimination in school.
Bill is nearly finished writing a second book entitled The Failure of Failure as an Educational Strategy. He is also writing a book of his memoirs.
When asked about his secret to success, Bill simply says, “It's no secret; find something you love to do that pays a living wage and you'll never have to work. I found teaching and didn't have to ‘work’ for the next 50 years.”
Bill says Southeast helped prepare him for his career by offering him the kind of academic autonomy that permitted him to explore fields of study to help decide on one that was the right fit for him.
His favorite memory at Southeast is playing on the “Indians” 1951 varsity football team under then-coach Goddard.
“As a football player, I lived free under the stadium at Houck Field, worked at the school cafeteria for my meals and enjoyed the esprit de corps and camaraderie of the friendly learning community.”
Bill also offered the following advice to current and future Southeast students.
“Don't commit to a profession too soon. Keep your options open, and remember it really is the journey that is the reward, not just the destination.
“I was in college for three years until I was drafted into the Army. There I learned there were the ‘haves and the have-nots.’ Afterward, armed with the G.I. Bill, a helpful, friendly staff at Southeast and a reprieve, I returned with the desire to be a ‘have,’ I graduated and went on to a rewarding, enjoyable career,” says Bill.
Bill currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and spending time with his three grandsons.